Las Cruces man admits in court to threatening Obama

LAS CRUCES >> A Las Cruces man admitted Thursday in federal court to making treats against the President Obama.

Tracy York White was arrested last October on allegations that he threatened the president in a phone conversation with an employee of the Social Security Administration.

White had called the Social Security Administration to change the address on his Medicaid card, his attorney said at the time, so he could get medication to treat his mental illnesses. White is homeless and has been staying recently in Las Cruces.

After waiting on hold for nearly an hour, according to a criminal complaint, only to be told he had to wait two weeks for the new Medicaid card, White vented. He allegedly blamed Obama's changes to health care, then said he'd get a .45-caliber gun, "go to the White House and shoot his ass."

As part of an agreement with prosecutors, White pleaded guilty Thursday, according to a news release from the New Mexico U.S. Attorney's Office.

White stated that he made the threat in frustration and knew what he was doing was wrong.

White is in federal custody and remains detained pending his sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled. At sentencing, White faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

He is the first local person to be charged with threatening the president in several years, a Secret Service official said.